State Efforts to Make College More Affordable

9/14/2012

A Senate hearing on efforts by states to make college more affordable highlighted several initiatives that Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), chair of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said he hopes can be replicated more broadly.

These initiatives are likely to receive more attention next year, when Congress begins to work on reauthorizing the federal Higher Education Act.

At Thursday's hearing, Harkin expressed urgency in addressing the soaring cost of higher education. When it comes to increasing affordability, “states still have a primary role to play,” he said.